White Oak Gall Powder

White oak gall powder (Quercus infectoria) is a tannin-rich natural mordant for cotton, linen and other cellulose fibers. It helps mordants bind more effectively to the fiber, producing clearer, stronger and more even results in natural dyeing, without adding a strong color of its own.

Quick facts

• Best for: cotton, linen and other cellulose fibers
• Use: approx. 10% WOF (10 g per 100 g of fiber)
• Botanical name: Quercus infectoria
• Sizes: 100 g (3.5 oz), 400 g (14.1 oz), 1 kg (2.2 lb)

How to use oak gall powder

Oak galls are high in tannin and are usually used to treat cellulose fibers before an aluminum-based mordant. Make sure your fiber or fabric has been properly scoured before use.

Put 10 g of oak gall powder for each 100 g of fiber into a non-reactive vessel and pour over boiling water. Stir to release the tannin. Add enough hot water so the fiber can be completely covered with room to stir. Wet the fiber, add it to the tannin bath, cover and leave to stand overnight, stirring occasionally. To keep the bath warm for longer, cover with a lid and wrap with a towel.

Alternatively, leave the tannin bath overnight without the fiber, strain off the powder particles, reheat the liquid, add the fiber and leave overnight again.

Full step-by-step guide: Aleppo oak galls tannin guide

How oak gall powder is produced

At Themazi we collect the galls from our oak forests in summer. The galls are made by a type of wasp and protect the wasp larvae until they hatch, so we harvest at the right time to let the wasp life cycle complete. To make sure all insects have left, the picked galls are left outside for at least two months before grinding and packaging.

A material with a long history

Oak gall has been used since Roman times to make ink and was the main ingredient of ink for many centuries.

Pair it with

Follow the tannin step with madder root powder for reds and pinks, or get everything in one box with our cellulose mordant studio kit.